1996 Edition

Description

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Location

33 00 S, 56 00 W -- Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Washington State

land area

173,620 sq km

total area

176,220 sq km

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

Environment

current issues

substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

international agreements

party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

natural hazards

seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

International disputes

short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River

Irrigated land

1,100 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

total

1,564 km

Land use

arable land

8%

forest and woodland

4%

meadows and pastures

78%

other

10%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm

Natural resources

fertile soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

highest point

Cerro Catedral 514 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 405,041; female 386,155) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,004,089; female 1,035,336) 65 years and over: 13% (male 170,109; female 238,222) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

17.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

9.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

Infant mortality rate

15.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.25 years (1996 est.)

male

71.8 years

total population

74.94 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

97.7%

male

96.9%

total population

97.3%

Nationality

adjective

Uruguayan

noun

Uruguayan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

3,238,952 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.7% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Capital

Montevideo

Chamber of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)

elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5

Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)

elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado 36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats - (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1

Constitution

27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980

Data code

UY

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

telephone

[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)

FAX

[598] (2) 48 86 11

Flag

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Independence

25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

International organization participation

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)

Name of country

conventional long form

Oriental Republic of Uruguay

conventional short form

Uruguay

local long form

Republica Oriental del Uruguay

local short form

Uruguay

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Political parties and leaders

National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, 12 member Executive Secretariat (as of 11 March 1996); New Sector Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista (EP), Tabare VAZQUEZ

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas J. DODD

embassy

Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo

mailing address

APO AA 34035

telephone

[598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77

Agriculture

wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing

Budget

expenditures

$3.37 billion with capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

revenues

$3.03 billion

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $91 million (1993)

Economic overview

Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high - though declining - inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation, currently at 35.4%; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay went into recession during second quarter 1995 and ended the year with an estimated 2% fall in GDP and a two percentage point rise in unemployment to 11%. This was partly due to Argentina's recession and the slowdown in Brazilian growth in 1995, which contributed to declines in the Uruguayan manufacturing, construction, and service sectors. However, despite its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners' troubles, Uruguayan trade expanded and potential new markets are being explored through Mercosur negotiations with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). Uruguay also recently augmented its transport and agricultural sector ties with the US. The economy is expected to come out of recession as regional growth prospects improve.

Electricity

capacity

2,070,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,575 kWh (1993)

production

9 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 7.12 (January 1996), 5.6 (January 1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991)

note

on 1 March 1993 the former new peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay's unit of currency by the peso which is equal to 1,000 of the new pesos

Exports

$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice

partners

Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

External debt

$4.95 billion (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $24.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

10.5%

industry

27.5%

services

62% (1994)

GDP per capita

$7,600 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-2.4% (1995 est.)

Imports

$3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics

partners

Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

Industrial production growth rate

-19% (1995 est.)

Industries

meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

35.4% (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.355 million (1991 est.)

by occupation

government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate

11% (1995)

Branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Coracero Guard, Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $256 million, 1.5% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

783,890

males fit for military service

636,454 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9

Radios

1.89 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

some modern facilities

domestic

most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

451,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

26

Televisions

725,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

66

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

5

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

8

with paved runways under 914 m

36

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

14 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

6,656 km

total

49,600 km

unpaved

42,944 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,405 GRT/110,939 DWT

Ports

Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este

Railways

standard gauge

2,070 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,070 km (461 km closed; additional 460 km only partially operational)

Waterways

1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft